Bookkeeping mechanism



13, 1953 w. A. BRUCKER BOOKKEEPING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet-l Filed April 22, 1952 Fl 6. I.

INVENTOR WALTER A. BRUCKER ATTORNEYS Oct. 13, 1953 w. A. BRUCKER 2,655,390

BOOKKEEPING MECHANISM Filed April 22, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WALTER A. BRUCKER ATTORNEYS R m s L R A HQ 1 W W W z 2 a I. W. F u 3 5 5 2 3 u 2 3 Z &

wamaz pwm WW1 Patented Oct. 13, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICIE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to bookkeeping devices,

and more particularly to an improved bookkeeping mechanism which enables the accountant to accomplish in substantially a single operation the posting of data to an account card and simultaneously to a journal sheet.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved bookkeeping device enabling an accountant to accomplish in substantially a single operation the posting of data on an account card and simultaneously on the journal sheet, the device being arranged to allow the shifting of the journal sheet and account card to prevent damage to either the account card or journal sheet when working at the lower portions thereof, the improved device providing a saving in time in the entry of data, eliminating errors in transcribing, and being arranged to allow original entries to be made on account cards and identical entries to be made as carbon copies on the journal or summary sheet associated therewith.

A further object of th invention is to provide an improved bookkeeping device for speedily and accurately entering data on account cards and journal sheets, said device being simple in construction, being easy to operate, and being compact in size.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figur 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of an improved bookkeeping device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan detail view of the sheetholding clamping assembly employed in the bookkeeping device of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan detail view of the main bottom plate employed in the clamping assembly of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan detail view of the relatively wide outer clamp employed in the clamping assembly of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a top plan detail view of the ground plate for the inner, relatively narrow clamp emis formed with the hinge loops 23, 24 and which Figure '7 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional detail view taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional detail view taken on the line 8-8 of Figur 1.

Figure 9 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional detail view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 1.

Figure 10 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional detail view taken on the line I0I 0 of Figure 1.

Figure 11 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional detail view taken on the line I I -I I of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the bookkeeping device is designated generally at II and comprises a rectangular tablet I2 of rigid material which is reduced in thickness at one side margin thereof to define the upper marginal recess I3 and the lower marginal recess I4 (Figs. 7-11). Designated at I5 is an elongated flat plate member which is secured to the bottom surface of the tablet I2 along the reduced side margin thereof, as by the rivets IG- (Figs. '7, 11). The plate member I5 is formed with the spaced hinge loops I I, I8, I 9 and 20 which are in alignment and which are disposed adjacent the marginal edge of the tablet I2 and which receive therein the hinge rod 2| (Figs. 7- 11). Designated at 22 is a relatively Wide, elongated, downwardly concave clamping plate which are engaged on the hinge rod 2|, as shown in Figure 2, the hinge loop 24 being received between the hinge loops I8 and I9, and the hinge loops 23 and 25 being located at the respective ends of the hinge rod. Designated at 26, 26 (Figs. 2, 7) are respective leaf springs which have substantially circular clamping portions 21 engaged around the hinge rod 2| between the respective hinge loops I1 and 23 and the hinge loops 25 and 28 and adjacent to hinge loops I8 and I9, as shown in Figure 2. The leaf springs 26 have lower arms 28 which are received in the recess I4, as shown in Figure 7, and have upper arms 29 which are received in apertured lugs 30 secured to the bottom surface of the clamping plate 22 adjacent its free edge. As shown in Figure 7, the free marginal portion of the clamping plate 22 is adapted to engage the top surface of the tablet I2, said free edge being bent to engage the top surface of tablet I2 substantially at right angles, as shown at 3|. The leaf spring 26 bias the clamping plate 22 clockwise, as viewed in Figure 7, to provide clamping engagement of the edge 3I of the clamping plate against the tablet I2.

As shown in Figure 4, the clamping plate 22 is formed with the elongated notched portions 32,

32 for a purpose presently to be described.

The hinge lug 24 of clamping plate 22 has rigidly secured thereto the upwardly and outwardly extending finger tab 33 which is employed for manually rotating the clamping plate 22 upwardly when desired.

Designated at 34 is an elongated ground plate member which is formed with the spaced pairs of hinge loops 35, 35 and 36, 36, the hinge loops 35 being engaged inwardly adjacent the hinge loops I1, and the hinge loops 36 being engaged adjacent the spring 26, adjoining the hinge loop [9, as shown in Figure 2. The ground plate 34 is received in the upper marginal recess 13 of the tablet [2, as shown in Figure 8. The hinges 35, 35 and 36, 36, after engaging the hinge rod 2| extend under the lower marginal recess I4. Des ignatedFattl is a relatively narrow clamping plate which is formed with the hinge lugs 38 and 39, said hinge lugs 38 and 39 being engaged on the hinge rod 2! between the respective pairs of hinge loops 35, 35 and 36, 36, as shown- Eig V ure 2. The clamping plate 31 is downwardly concave and disposed beneath the clamping plate 22, the clamping plate 3! being;- torrr ed with a downwardly bent free marginal edge'40 which is adapted to engage the ground plate 34 substantially perpendicularly thereto, as shown in Fig- HE719-QQL 11 Desi nated; at. Fis a ar r sp c ampin hr e ha i U- shapedz rms, e2: n ing; he. to sur a f t c a -n ne. p a e 31 n harms r s ectiv il he .4. ur ound n he hing red 2|, coiled; portions; terminating in respective e 4.4 ben ide ys a d ge un e h e loops. t n 35 .5 LSB Q in Figure springs being located adjacent the respecgo lugs 38 and 39, as; shown in Figure 2, m lee. he. n he. ampi g a 8? oh s ai cla ing plate downwardly into engagement withgthe ground plate 34, The clamping plate 3! is providedwith the upwardly and outward in- Qlined finger tabs 55, 45 Which are employed to eleyatethe clamping plate 4E out of engagement w th; h g e hd i t efl wh n de red. e-

It; will be noted from Figure 3 that the hinge 1 5s 3.52. ,3- and 3.6 v .1. 39..- a ca in the respective notched portions 32- of the outer clamping plate Z2, whereby the. inner clarnping assemloly comprising the ground plate 3t, the clamping plate; 3;? and the springs 41- associated therewith may be moved; longitudinally along the hinge; rod 2L This; be accomplished by exerting a force onreither of the tabs 45 in the direction of the axis of; the hinge rod 2i. This arrangement a sheet cla nped bythe inner clamping t ibe .vedpe're he in re W: gerti ga s gh wnwa d; p essu e he fing tab .3, to. e se he am hre o he'hl t ende the. ame tim h sh.- mg onerof the tabs 65; in. the direction of; the axis of the; hinge rod 2}.

In using the deyice, the.journa1sheetisinserted by depressing the tabs 45, 45, causing the free edgeofi the inner clamping plate 3? tobe elevated against the; spring arms 25, 2 53 and to exert an upward force. on the outer clamping plate 22. The] elevation of the. outer clampingplate 22 ori 'the. inner; clamping plate ti. allows the edge of thejournal sheet to be inserted freelyuntil it engages the inner endportion of the inner clampingplate. 37. Also inserted in this manner is a sheet of; carbon paper which overlies the left handportion of the journal sheet and isarranged.

to underlie'the account-sheetto be next inserted in the device. The sheet or card is theninserted by depressing. thetab, 33 of the outerclamping platens, the account sheet then beingmoved beeath} he clamp un l t e n a es the veriq l edse t eh, 5.01" he hner ampi plate 31. The carbon paper and the left hand portion of; the journal sheet are now covered. by the account sheet or card. The account, sheet orcard.

is, oi course, properly aligned with the. journal 4 sheet so that the proper data may be entered simultaneously on the account sheet or card and the journal sheet, the data being transmitted to the journal sheet by the carbon paper disposed between the account sheet or card and journal sheet, as above described.

After completing the entry on the account card or sheet; said card or sheet may be removed by depressing the tab 33 to release the, account sheet or card. The next account sheet or card may be inserted under the clamping plate 22 to perform the next bookkeeping entry.

the; course of the bookkeeping work the lower lines of the journal sheet will eventually be reached. Entries will be required simultahe9l1l h the, lower lines of the journal sheet and'on the upper lines of account cards. Therefore, the account cards will protrude a considerable distance beyond the lower edge of the jourial sh et: nd. tahlet. d. n maki ntries. th accoun ar ma Dec a d e wi i h ed ecaus Qfis protrudin o i ion; with. espe t. t he low -edge ofthe tablet, In order to prevent such dama e. to n. hee uh rd, h rnal; heet may be shifted upwardly longitudinally along he hing d 21.. in he manner above described, namely by li h lydep e in the tab 33 an simultaneously applying force on one or the other of the tabs 45' in the direction of the, axis of the hin e ed 2 h reby ;v nn lamp device an he; Jou nal, shee d carbon. p p c d t ere itha moved alo the hin erod andrelative; to the; notched portions 32; of; the main q amp h zh a e 22. nt l he nner lampin eic n a es n e 64 to the loss hing 20 Ma. T i mo es. e J urna s t upward- 1y to; a more convenient position on, the tablet wherein; the account card may be positioned thout prot ud n from the l wer ed e of said able h s vo din p sib edamaee Bethe account card.

Aftenthejournal sheet has beenfilied with entries the journal sheet and carbon paper maybe renrioved by: depressing the finger tabs 4:5", as above described, whereby the free edges of the outerclamping pla-teZZ; and inner clamping plate 37 are simultaneously elevated. The inner clampingassernblycomprising the clamping plate 11 3 7 5? s o h in ate 313; may. then be returned tq heir er ei rosi iohs by pu in ne or} the other of the tabs it toward the lower hinge loop J. of he ut cla in assembly (Figure 2).

While a specific embodiment of an improved bookkeeping deyicehasbeen. disclosed in. the fore- QiJh es ri t onit will be understood that varm im difioat ons,within the spiritv of the invention may occur to those skilledin thea-rtj Therefore, itisintended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

' What is-claimed is:

1:. A bookkeeping device comprising a rigid rectangular tablet, a plate member secured to the bottom surf-ace ofsaid tablet and extending parallel to a sidemargin of the tablet, a plurality ofhinge loops formed on saidplate member adjacent'the side marginal edge ofv the tablet, a hinge rod securedin said loops, at wide arcuate clamping plate pivoted on said rod and extending oversaidjside margin; leaf springs operatiyely connected to the under face of said clamping plate biasing theclamping plate downwardly into engagement with the tablet to hold' inits grip an account card; a narrowclamping plate pivoted to said rod andextending beneaththe firstnamed clamping plate, said second-named clamping plate being slidable on said rod, and spring means operatively connected to said second named clamping plate and biasing said second-named clamping plate into engagement with said tablet.

2. A bookkeeping device comprising a rigid rectangular tablet, a plate member secured to the bottom surface of said tablet and extending parallel to a side margin of the tablet, a plurality of hinge loops formed on said plate member adjacent the side marginal edge of the tablet, a hinge rod secured in said loops, 2, wide arcuate clamping plate pivoted on said rod and extending over said side margin, a plurality of leaf springs secured to said rod and the under side of said tablet, said springs biasing the clamping plate downwardly into engagement with the tablet, said clamping plate being formed with a plurality of longitudinal notches along said rod, a narrow clamping plate pivoted to said rod in said notches and extending beneath the first-named clamping plate, said second-named clamping plate being slidable on said rod, and spring means operatively connected to said second named clamping plate and biasing said second named plate into engagement with said tablet.

3. A bookkeeping device comprising a rigid rectangular tablet having a side margin of reduced thickness, a plate member secured to the bottom surface of said tablet and extending parallel to said side margin, a plurality of hinge loops formed on said plate member adjacent the side 6 marginal edge of the tablet, a hinge rod secured in said loops, a Wide arcuate clamping plate pivoted on said rod and extending over said side margin, a plurality of leaf springs secured to said rod and the under side of the reduced margin of said tablet, said springs biasing the clamping plate downwardly into engagement with the tablet, said clamping plate being formed with two longitudinal notches along said rod, a narrow clamping plate pivoted to said rod in said notches and extending beneath the first-named clamping plate, a ground plate slidably engaged on said rod and slidably engaging the reduced side margin of the tablet, said second-named clamping plate overlying said ground plate and being slidable therewith relative to said rod, and spring means biasing the vertical free edge of said secondnamed clamping plate into engagement with said ground plate, for holding between the clamping plate and its ground plate a journal sheet and carbon paper.

WALTER. A. BRUCKER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,564,589 Wolters Aug. 14, 1951 2,598,358 Connor May 27, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 980,449 France Dec. 27, 1950 

